Top Hip-Hop Headlines Of The Weekend, 6/21 – 6/23

Summer started last Friday. While most of us were soaking in the sun rays this weekend, Drake, Jay-Z and Big Sean managed to dominate headlines. Who will take the crown for summer album of the year? It seems the selections are getting bigger by the day.

In other news, J. Cole got a big shout out from Nas, and Meek Mill’s protégé gets honored in an amazing video. To start off your week right, here are your top hip-hop headlines from this weekend.

1. Drake Drops Four New Songs
In a way to cap off the big week in hip-hop, Drake fans were given four new songs and the release date of his third solo album, Nothing Was The Same. On the J.Cole-assisted “Jodeci Freestyle,” the pair trade boastful bars about their legacies in the game. Drake also jumps Migos’ buzzing single, “Versace,” with a confident verse that matches up with the Atlanta trio's style and cadence. On “The Motion” featuring Sampha and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s “Over Here,” we find the Toronto rhymer touching on his R&B side. There’s no telling which songs will appear on Nothing Was The Same, but fans will definitely be keeping an eye out for September 17.

2. Nas Responds To J. Cole's "Let Nas Down"
J. Cole had a very personal track on his new album called “Let Nas Down.” In it, Cole tells the story of how he met Nas and learned that the Queensbridge legend was a fan of his music. Cole goes on to describe putting out a radio-friendly single for his debut, which ended up being “Work Out.” However, Cole felt he disappointed Nas who didn’t seem to like the single.

Well, Nas surprised us all by releasing his response to Cole’s track. Rapping over “Let Nas Down,” the remix tells us how Cole made Nas proud. You couldn’t ask for anything more. You ain’t let Nas down/How that sound? Here the crown, pass it to you like nothin’ nigga.

3. Jay-Z Reveals 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' Through Scavenger Hunt
Jay-Z’s new album continues to be a hot topic since its announcement. Over the weekend, fans were treated to a scavenger hunt that would unveil the song titles on Magna Carta Holy Grail. Helmed by Hov’s publicist Jana Fleishman, she took to Twitter and posted photos of locations in New York so fans could find black notebooks containing the album’s tracklist. That’s surely one way to spend your Saturday afternoon.

4. Big Sean Announces 'Hall Of Fame' Release Date
We can’t forget about Big Sean. The G.O.O.D. Music spitter announced the official release date for his sophomore album, Hall Of Fame. Adding to the diverse set of new music this season, Sean is making sure he gets the title of hip-hop’s album of the summer. Circle your calendars for August 27.

5. Lil Snupe Is Honored With "Nobody" Video
This past week, Lil Snupe was a victim of a shooting that cost him his life. The young rapper, who had signed to Meek Mill’s Dream Chasers label, had a lot of potential to be a big star. In honor of his death, Meek released a video for “Nobody.” It highlights Snupe’s journey in his budding career—from concert footage to meeting rappers like Juelz Santana and more. For fans, the video shows Snupe at his best.